Jon Michele Delvalle was born to Louis and Elizabeth Delvalle. He spent his childhood in Hayward, California, and Wimer, Oregon. At a very young age, he fell in love with the land. Jon was the provider and protector of his family, which remained deeply ingrained in him all his days. Jon volunteered to serve in the army right out of high school. He was always described as patriotic, brave, fearless, and a strong leader.
Jon met his wife, Judy, in California. They married and began raising their two children, Aaron and Stephany, in Wimer, Oregon. At age 26, Jon became fire chief of Evans Valley Fire Department, where he served from 1986-1990. In 1990, Jon and Judy moved their family to Bend, Oregon. Jon started his construction company and began remodeling homes all over Bend. Fun times were spent hunting and fishing with his family and friends. In 1995, Jon and Judy moved their family to Garden Valley, Idaho, where they lived together for 26 years. Jon’s construction company flourished through the years. He was a skilled craftsman and built and remodeled many homes in Garden Valley.
Jon joined Garden Valley Fire Protection District in 2000 as fire chief and led the department for 21 years. As call volume continued to increase, he closed his construction business to focus solely on the department. Jon made significant improvements to the department, establishing the 281 square mile district, additions to headquarters, new substations, equipment, vehicles, and absorbing emergency medical response. Jon and department volunteers became skilled in swift water rescue, technical rescue, rope rescue, ice rescue, Firefighting I, II, and III, emergency medical services, and much more. Jon built professional relationships all over Boise County, the state of Idaho, forest service, and law enforcement. Jon was fully dedicated, carrying out what was best for the community and safety of his firefighters. His dedication, experience, and love for his community will forever be felt by all that knew him.
Jon loved his family without limits and was so much more to his family than the fire chief. He loved the outdoors and spent time fishing, hunting, camping, and fostering his love for the outdoors in his children and grandchildren. Jon loved sleepovers with his grandkids; swimming after training; sharing the station and the trucks with grandkids; playing cards with his kids and grandkids; running hounds with his young son; bird hunting with his son and later grandsons and lab; deer, turkey, bear, elk, moose hunting with family; watching his grandkids at rodeos; and fishing at Deadwood with family. His family will forever miss him. He was ours, and he was everything to us.
Jon (Mich to me), my dear younger brother, is so very missed each day. He was a great man to his family and siblings.
– Cheri Peon del ValleThank you Mich. I love you.